Nevada is home to an impressive range of wildlife — from coyotes and rattlesnakes crossing suburban yards in Las Vegas to black bears wandering into Reno neighborhoods from the Sierra Nevada foothills. When a wild animal moves into your attic, garden, or garage, your first instinct may be to handle it yourself. Before you reach for a trap or call a neighbor with a truck, you need to understand the state laws that govern exactly what you can and cannot do.
Wildlife removal in Nevada is regulated primarily by the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) under Title 45 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). The rules cover which animals you may remove without a permit, which require professional intervention, how traps must be registered and checked, and what happens when you get it wrong. This guide walks you through each of those rules so you can act legally and safely.
Can You Remove Wildlife Yourself in Nevada?
The short answer is: sometimes, but with significant restrictions. Wildlife in Nevada that is not domesticated and in its natural habitat is part of the natural resources belonging to the people of the State of Nevada. That legal ownership status means the state — not you — controls what happens to wild animals, even when they show up on your property.
Nevada law divides wildlife into several categories: game mammals, furbearers, protected species, unprotected mammals, and sensitive or endangered species. Your ability to remove an animal yourself depends entirely on which category it falls into. Removing a protected or game species without authorization is a criminal offense, regardless of where the animal was found.
Before you decide to shoot a nuisance animal, you should be aware that there are specific rules and regulations related to the discharge of firearms. Check with local authorities, including NDOW, before shooting a nuisance animal. The same caution applies to trapping — the method, location, and species all factor into whether your actions are legal.
Pro Tip: When in doubt, call the NDOW Dispatch Office at (775) 688-1331 before taking any action on a nuisance animal. A quick phone call can prevent an expensive legal mistake.
Which Animals Can Be Removed Without a Permit in Nevada?
Unprotected mammals are all species of mammals which are not classified as game, fur-bearing, protected, sensitive, threatened, or endangered animals, and include coyotes, blacktail rabbits, skunks, and weasels. These animals generally offer the most flexibility for property owners dealing with nuisance situations.
Some species can be hunted in Nevada without a hunting license, but a trapping license is required to trap them. This is a critical distinction many homeowners miss: even if an animal is “unprotected,” using a trap to catch it still requires a valid trapping license. Shooting an unprotected species may be permitted in rural areas, but local ordinances and discharge restrictions in cities like Las Vegas, Henderson, or Sparks may prohibit it entirely.
Common nuisance animals Nevada residents often encounter include roof rats, house mice, pigeons (non-native), and English sparrows. These non-native or pest species typically fall outside standard wildlife protections and can be controlled by property owners using standard pest control methods. However, you should always verify the species before acting — many birds that look like “common pigeons” may be protected migratory species.
Important Note: Nevada’s wildlife categories can be complex, and misidentifying a species before removal is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make. When uncertain, contact NDOW or a licensed wildlife control operator before taking action.
Which Animals Require a Licensed Wildlife Removal Professional in Nevada?
Control of large carnivores, such as bears, mountain lions, and bobcats, should not be attempted by the average homeowner. For aid in controlling these species, contact the Nevada Department of Wildlife Dispatch Office at (775) 688-1331 or (775) 688-1332. These animals pose direct safety risks and are protected under Nevada law, making any unauthorized removal a serious offense.
Species classified as furbearers in Nevada include beaver, bobcat, gray fox, kit fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, and otter. These species can be harvested in season with either a trapping license or a hunting license. Outside of open season, a private homeowner has no legal authority to trap or kill these animals without a special depredation or nuisance permit issued by NDOW.
Migratory birds — including most songbirds, hawks, owls, swallows, and waterfowl — are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The State of Nevada follows the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 20 for legal methods of take for migratory birds. This means that removing a barn swallow nest from your eaves, disturbing a nesting owl, or trapping a red-tailed hawk without a federal depredation permit is a federal crime, not just a state one.
It is unlawful for any person, firm, company, corporation, or association to kill, destroy, wound, trap, injure, possess dead or alive, or in any other manner catch, capture, take, or remove from the wild, or pursue with such intent, the birds known as the bald eagle and the golden eagle, or to take or remove from the wild, injure, possess, or destroy the nests, eggs, or newly hatched offspring of such birds.
In Nevada, the Endangered Species Act is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This law protects all plants and animals listed as endangered or threatened in the state. If you encounter a desert tortoise, Mojave ground squirrel, or any other listed species on your property, you must contact NDOW rather than attempt removal yourself.
| Animal Category | Examples | DIY Removal Allowed? | Who to Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unprotected mammals | Coyote, skunk, jackrabbit | Hunting may be permitted; trapping requires license | NDOW for guidance |
| Furbearers | Beaver, bobcat, fox, muskrat | No (outside open season) | Licensed wildlife control operator |
| Large carnivores | Black bear, mountain lion | No | NDOW Dispatch (775) 688-1331 |
| Migratory birds | Owls, hawks, swallows, ducks | No | USFWS + licensed operator |
| Federally threatened/endangered | Desert tortoise, certain bats | No | NDOW + USFWS |
Trapping Rules and Legal Methods in Nevada
Nevada has detailed rules governing how, where, and when traps may be set. A trapping license is required to trap any furbearer including bobcat, fox, otter, mink, beaver, and muskrat. Without a valid license, placing any trap intended to catch a furbearer is unlawful — even on your own property if the land is not posted or fenced.
Each trap, snare, or similar device used to take wild animals on public land must either be registered with the Department ($5.00 fee per trap) or be stamped with the trapper’s name and address. These registration provisions do not apply to a trap, snare, or similar device used exclusively on private property which is posted or fenced in accordance with NRS 207.200.
It is unlawful for any person, company, or corporation to place or set any trap, snare, or similar device used for the purpose of trapping mammals within 200 feet of any public road or highway within this State. This setback rule applies statewide and is one of the most commonly cited trapping violations.
Steel leghold traps come with specific size requirements. All steel leg hold traps of size number 2 or larger, or with an outside jaw spread of 5½ inches or larger, used in the taking of any wildlife must have lugs, spacers, or similar devices permanently attached so as to maintain a minimum trap opening of three-sixteenths (3/16″) of an inch along the entire surface of the outside jaw that is used to catch wildlife.
Trapping visitation requirements vary based on what area and county the trap is in. Be sure you know the laws before placing traps. All Nevada trapping license holders must complete the mandatory furbearer harvest questionnaire online via ndowlicensing.com between May 1st and May 31st, regardless of harvest activity.
- Traps on public land must be registered with NDOW ($5 per trap) or stamped with owner’s name and address
- No trap may be set within 200 feet of a public road or highway
- Snares, body gripping traps, and steel legholds may not be placed within 30 feet of exposed bait
- Trap check frequency varies by county — verify local requirements before setting
- Selling pelts from any trapped species requires a valid trapping license
Pro Tip: Nevada is a member of the Wildlife Violators Compact, a multi-state alliance that recognizes and enforces license suspensions across member states. A trapping violation in Nevada can follow you to other states.
Can You Relocate Wildlife in Nevada?
This is where many well-meaning Nevada homeowners run into legal trouble. The instinct to catch a raccoon raiding your trash cans and release it “somewhere safe” in the desert is understandable — but it is not legal under Nevada law.
While you can live-trap some nuisance wildlife, relocation is not allowed. The trapped animals must be destroyed, since they may carry disease and relocation could spread the disease. Additionally, many of these diseases are transmissible to humans.
This policy applies broadly to most nuisance wildlife situations in Nevada. Animals like raccoons, skunks, and foxes are primary vectors for rabies and other zoonotic diseases. Moving them to a new location does not eliminate the risk — it spreads it to a new area and new population. NDOW enforces this rule to protect both public health and native wildlife populations.
The USDA Wildlife Services will loan out traps and humanely euthanize trapped animals. They can be reached at 1-866-4USDAWS (1-866-487-3297) or (775) 851-4848. This is often the most practical option for homeowners who have already trapped an animal and are unsure what to do next.
There is one narrow exception worth knowing: NAC 503.135 covers permits to release wildlife. If you are a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or operator working under an NDOW-issued release permit, you may be authorized to relocate certain animals. Private homeowners acting on their own do not qualify for this exception.
If you live near Lake Tahoe or in the foothills around Reno, bear encounters require special attention. NDOW maintains a Bear Hotline at 775-688-BEAR that is wired directly into NDOW’s Dispatch Center in Reno. Do not attempt to trap, relocate, or haze a black bear without NDOW guidance — bears are a protected game species and unauthorized interference carries serious penalties.
Hiring a Licensed Wildlife Control Operator in Nevada
When the animal on your property requires a permit, involves a protected species, or simply poses more risk than you want to handle, hiring a licensed wildlife control operator is the right move. Nevada does not maintain a single statewide certification specifically titled “Wildlife Control Operator,” but professionals in this field operate under a combination of NDOW trapping licenses, USDA Wildlife Services authorizations, and pest control licenses issued by the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
Before hiring anyone, ask for proof of their Nevada trapping license and any applicable NDOW depredation or nuisance wildlife permits. A legitimate operator will carry documentation for the specific species they are authorized to handle. Verify that they are familiar with Nevada’s no-relocation policy — any operator who promises to “release the animal in the wild” is either uninformed or operating outside the law.
For bear, mountain lion, or other large carnivore situations, NDOW game wardens may respond directly or coordinate with a licensed contractor. As with almost all pests, after the animal is removed, apply exclusion techniques and remove temptations to eliminate recurrence of the problem. A good wildlife control professional will not just remove the animal — they will identify and address the entry points, food sources, or attractants that brought the animal to your property in the first place.
Pro Tip: Ask any wildlife removal company whether they hold a current Nevada trapping license and whether their methods comply with NDOW’s no-relocation rule. If they cannot answer both questions clearly, keep looking.
For comparison, you can review how other states handle these requirements in articles covering wildlife removal laws in Arizona, wildlife removal laws in California, and wildlife removal laws in Colorado — all neighboring or nearby states with their own distinct regulatory frameworks.
Penalties for Illegal Wildlife Removal in Nevada
Nevada takes wildlife violations seriously, and the penalties reflect that. Convictions of wildlife law may carry serious penalties, including criminal fines up to $5,000, jail, civil penalties up to $30,000, loss of equipment, and lost license privileges.
The penalty structure works on two tracks — criminal and civil. On the criminal side, most basic wildlife violations are misdemeanors. Every person who is guilty of a misdemeanor under this title shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months, or by both fine and imprisonment.
More serious offenses escalate to felony territory. Killing a big game mammal outside of the prescribed season and time, using the aid of an aircraft or helicopter, using a tag assigned to another person or hunting without a tag, utilizing a different method of take, or obtaining a tag by false or fraudulent representation are all actions that a person can be prosecuted with a felony for doing.
On top of criminal penalties, courts impose civil penalties per animal. In addition to the penalties provided for the violation of any of the provisions of this title, every person who unlawfully kills or possesses a big game mammal, bobcat, swan, or eagle is liable for a civil penalty of not less than $250 nor more than $5,000. Every court before whom a defendant is convicted of unlawfully killing or possessing any wildlife shall order the defendant to pay the civil penalty in the amount stated for each mammal, bird, or fish unlawfully killed or possessed.
Nevada also uses a demerit point system for hunting, fishing, and trapping license holders. Hunting, fishing, and trapping license privileges are revoked when a person accumulates 12 demerit points within a 60-month period. When a person is convicted of a wildlife violation, a certain number of demerits are assessed for that crime. The more serious the crime, the greater the number of demerits assessed. Demerit-based revocations can range from 3 years to as much as 10 years.
Equipment forfeiture is another real consequence. Any gun, ammunition, trap, snare, vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or other device or equipment is subject to forfeiture if used in the facilitation of unlawful and intentional killing or possession of a big game mammal in Nevada.
If a person ordered to pay a civil penalty fails to do so within 90 days after the date set forth in the order, the Department may suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew any license, tag, permit, certificate, or other document or privilege otherwise available to the person.
If you witness a wildlife violation, you can report wildlife crime by calling the Operation Game Thief hotline or using the NDOW Tip app, which provides citizens the ability to submit anonymous tips to Nevada Department of Wildlife game wardens.
Understanding Nevada’s wildlife laws protects you from costly penalties and supports the conservation programs that keep the state’s ecosystems healthy. Whether you are dealing with a skunk under your deck in Henderson or a bear raiding your bird feeder near Incline Village, the right first step is always to identify the species, check your legal options, and call NDOW or a qualified professional when the situation calls for it. You can also review wildlife removal laws in other states — including Washington, Texas, Florida, and Georgia — to see how Nevada’s approach compares to the rest of the country.